Safety glove for football players

ABSTRACT

A glove with a connecting member between the finger and thumb retainers to prevent thumb and finger injury on forceful contact with opposing players.

United States Patent 1 1 Diggins June 24, 1975 l 1 SAFETY GLOVE FOR FOOTBALL PLAYERS [75] Inventor: Dennis R. Diggins, Chula Vista,

Calif.

[73] Assignee: Daniel M. Ramirez, Chula Vista,

Calif.

[22] Filed: Feb. 21, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 444,319

[52] US. Cl. 2/161 A; 2/16 [51] Int. Cl Alld 19/00 [58] Field of Search 2/158, 159, 160, 161 R,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS lverson 2/20 X 980,560 1/1911 Ratsch 2/19 1,093,276 4/1914 Laser 2/20 X 1,284,178 11/1918 Clarke 2/154 X 2,554,991 5/1951 Kramer 2/161 A 3,707,730 1/1973 Slider 2/161 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 292,339 6/1928 United Kingdom 2/20 Primary ExaminerGeorge V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-William F. Frank [5 7 ABSTRACT A glove with a connecting member between the finger and thumb retainers to prevent thumb and finger injury on forceful contact with opposing players.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures 1 SAFETY GLOVE FOR FOOTBALL PLAYERS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION SUMMARY OF INVENTION As is well known in the sport, defensive football players, especially linebackers, are constantly in danger of having their thumbs forced backwards, towards the wrists, from attempting to manually resist the charge of opposing players. To a lesser degree fingers are vulnerable to injuries from the same causes. Before my invention there has been no practical means for holding the fingers, especially the thumb and forefinger, close to each other or otherwise guard against the destructive force of onrushing offensive players. There has been the need for a device which would prevent injury and at the same time permit maximum use of the fingers and hand during play.

Summary of Invention My device combines such desired features by, in effect, anchoring the thumb to the remainder of the digits of the hand. I have provided strong linkage between sheaths into which the thumb and fingers fit whereby force applied to the thumb, for example, will be transmitted to the remainder of the hand. The strength of the entire hand will automatically resist the force which would otherwise bend the thumb causing injury to associated body parts. In addition, my invention incorporates the usual protective pad for the back of the hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS -In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my device from the side thereof.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the side thereof which covers the back of the hand.

FIG. 3 is a plan view from the under or palm side thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawing forming a part hereof the numeral points to a usual glove body portion. It is made of flexible fabric of sufficient strength to not tear or rip under rough treatment. An important feature of my invention is the connecting portion 12. It is preferably integral with the remainder of the device in the form of web.

Stitching l4 loops around the connecting means. It passes through the two sides (backhand and palm) of the device to delineate a truncated thumb stall l6 and truncated index or forefinger stall 18. Similarly lineal stitching 20 forms truncated finger stalls (such as item 22) suitable for retaining each of the fingers of the player wearing the device. A strip of fabric 24 is preferably sewn onto and along the entire edge of the stall and connecting means portions for added strength and unity.

At the opposite wrist end thereof,'l prefer to have a cut-away portion 30 to faciliate putting on or taking off the device regardless of the size of the hand of the wearer. A wrist orifice 26 is provided for entry and exit of the hand and a securing member 28 is associated therewith. Such member 28 is preferably of the burr multiple hook-and-loop arrangement available on the open market. This makes an ideal fastener.

I have incorporated the usual protective pad 32 retained on the backside of the device by a closed pocket. This gives further protection to the player from bruising contacts of opponents.

I claim:

1. A protective glove for the hand ofa football player comprising a body portion made of a flexible tearresistant fabric and covering the palm, back and sides of the hand, a plurality of contiguous, truncated finger stalls formed along one end of said body portion by a plurality of lineal stitchings, spaced along and substantially perpendicular to said one end, a truncated thumb stall on said one end which is spaced from the index finger stall by a web of said fabric formed by a U-shaped stitching along said one end, a strengthening strip sewed along said one end on the palm, back and sides of said body portion to completely encompass said finger and thumb stalls along said end, the edges of the palm and back side of said body protion opposite said one end being unconnected to each other to provide an opening to receive said hand in said body portion and encompass the wrist of the player, a strap attached to the edges of said opening and having locking means on each end thereof to secure the said opening around the wrist and a pocket formed on the interior surface of the back side of said body portion to removably receive a protective pad therein. 

1. A protective glove for the hand of a football player comprising a body portion made of a flexible tear-resistant fabric and covering the palm, back and sides of the hand, a plurality of contiguous, truncated finger stalls formed along one end of said body portion by a plurality of lineal stitchings, spaced along and substantially perpendicular to said one end, a truncated thumb stall on said one end which is spaced from the index finger stall by a web of said fabric formed by a U-shaped stitching along said one end, a strengthening strip sewed along said one end on the palm, back and sides of said body portion to completely encompass said finger and thumb stalls along said end, the edges of the palm and back side of said body protion opposite said one end being unconnected to each other to provide an opening to receive said hand in said body portion and encompass the wrist of the player, a strap attached to the edges of said opening and having locking means on each end thereof to secure the said opening around the wrist and a pocket formed on the interior surface of the back side of said body portion to removably receive a protective pad therein. 